"I don't see it as a negative. I see it very much as a positive," said RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie.

"Our view is that it is an honour to be asked to be involved with the Lions."

Gatland has confirmed Farrell - England's defence and backs coach - is on his shortlist to join the coaching staff, while Rowntree worked with Gatland as a scrummaging specialist in Ian McGeechan's coaching set-up on the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa.